Disease Proof

Posted at 3:32 PM on June 8, 2010 by Emily Boller

Interview with a Nutritarian: Mike

Recently Mike posted a thread titled, “Down 10 pant sizes!” on the member center of DrFuhrman.com. I asked him if he’d be willing to be interviewed on Disease Proof to inspire others to get their health back also, and he graciously obliged to share his story. Not only did he drop pants sizes, but also his bottles of medications. Welcome to Disease Proof, Mike!

What was your life like before discovering Dr. Fuhrman’s nutritarian eating-style?

Due to unhealthy eating habits, including eating out too much, I had been getting heavier and slowing down with each passing birthday. At age forty I weighed 165 lbs; at fifty I weighed 195 lbs; and at sixty I weighed 215 lbs. I’d always been active at playing golf, surf fishing and cycling. However, the extra weight made a walk around the golf course an adventure, surf fish very tiring, and small hills on bike rides seemed like pedaling the Alps. I was also getting tired at work and needed stimulants to make it through the second part of each day. I was a fixture at the local chocolate shop as I needed a shot of chocolate to get me through the afternoons.

I was scared because I started having chest pains while climbing stairs, hiking hills on the golf course, and in stressful situations. One day I encountered difficulty swallowing, followed by chest pains which landed me in the hospital. I ducked a heart attack, but tests revealed that my left descending lower artery was 50% blocked so they started me on aspirin, blood pressure meds and statins.

How did you find out about ETL?

I’d given up smoking in the mid 80’s and tried Pritkin, McDougall, and a few others to get healthy, but they required a lot of food preparation so I eventually quit following them. When I got home from the hospital, I wanted to see if there was anything “new” on the market for healthy eating so I scoured the book section of the local health food store and discovered The China Study and Eat to Live. Eat to Livewas just what I was looking for: simple to shop for and prepare, with very little clean up. This was perfect for me as I worked and wanted to be able to do most of the shopping, prep and cleaning myself.

I visited Dr. Fuhrman for the first time in January 2009. After I was weighed and measured (including my waist size and level of nutrients in my body), he clearly explained to me that I needed to follow the “straight and narrow” and lose a lot of weight pronto, or else suffer the consequences. He told me that the extra fat on my mid section was probably as much responsible for my artery blockage as my cholesterol, because that fat produces plaque; an important reason not to be overweight! I decided to listen to Dr. Fuhrman as he made a lot more sense to me than the cardiologist who was only interested in my cholesterol and blood pressure.

How do you feel now?

ETL has given me 10 to 15 years of my life back! I’m now off of all meds (statins and blood pressure lowering meds), and I feel better, look better, and think better than ever before; plus, I have the additional confidence that I’ll live a long and healthy life devoid of needing to see a cardiologist again! I also don’t have to worry about developing diabetes (it runs in my family) or having a stroke, and eating lots of cruciferous vegetables, fruits and beans greatly reduces my risk of getting cancer. From a mental perspective this is huge as I’m a big believer that actively doing something is akin to moving forward under fire, and increases confidence and outlook on life.

[At age 63, Mike recently finished a 102 mile bike ride in 6:10; and over Memorial Day weekend he completed a sixty mile ride with an “A” team of cyclists, and was able to hang with the group for the entire time. He finds this to be unbelievable, because two years ago he was afraid to ride to with “C” cyclists, because he didn’t think that he could keep up with them. Now he’s approached by some of the top riders and asked, “What’s the name of that book you told me about?”!]

before

now

Weight

216 lbs

158 lbs

Waist measurement

43”

33”

Blood pressure

145/90 (with meds)

115/70 (no meds)

Cholesterol

165 (105/35 ratio)

125 (60/45 ratio)

Do you have any success tip(s) to share with others?

Nutritarian eating is a simple and healthful way to eat that combats all major and chronic diseases killing modern man . . . so go for it! You won’t be sorry!

Also, when I first read Dr. Fuhrman’s claims, and even after I’d met him, I wasn’t so sure if I was being taken as it seemed too simple: Greens to the rescue? No meds? No fancy formulas? All these things sounded too good to be true, but I found everything to be true!

Don’t wait for fear of a heart attack to be motivated to change!

Congratulations Mike ~ we applaud you for getting your health back!

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Comments (8)Read through and enter the discussion with the form at the end

jacki melendez -
June 9, 2010 9:52 AM

I think that he said it right..."it seems too simple." I think we are always trying to overcomplicate the situation.

Thanks all. I should add that I had terrible terrible indigestion since I was a kid. I grew up on Maalox and Tums and had presciptions for the heavy duty stomach pills. I threw them all out w/i a week of starting ETL and I havent had any stomach problems since!

When I went to see my gastro Doc after getting oout of the H but after starting ETL he said let me give you a prescription for when you start eating more normal again. I told him no and walked out more determined to stick w/ETL than ever.I also told myself who needs this guy? He eats lousy, drinks Tab, and has a big belly!

Dianed -
June 10, 2010 6:26 AM

Congratulations Mike!! Getting your health back is the most important thing we can do! You are an inspiration!!